highway

American  

[hahy-wey] / ˈhaɪˌweɪ /

noun

1. a main road, especially one between towns or cities.

   the highway between Los Angeles and Seattle.

   Synonyms:

   interstate, thruway, freeway, expressway

2. any public road or waterway.

3. any main or ordinary route, track, or course.

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highway British  

/ ˈhaɪˌweɪ /

noun

1. a public road that all may use

2. law a main road, esp one that connects towns or cities

3. a main route for any form of transport

4. a direct path or course

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Etymology

Origin of highway

before 900; Middle English heyewei, Old English heiweg. See high, way ¹

Compare meaning

How does highway compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• freeway vs. highway
• interstate vs. highway
• expressway vs. highway
• parkway vs. highway

Example Sentences

Cassie’s house is on the other side of town, and the GPS tells us to take the highway, which Celia hates.

From Literature

And since 2014, a huge infrastructure drive -- new highways, airports and ports -- has underpinned swift growth.

From Barron's

What the pair found was a desert highway that rolls up and down, like an asphalt serpent, with deadly blind peaks and treacherous hidden troughs.

From Barron's

Public transport connects almost every corner of this tiny country, lush greenery lines the highways and spills out of towering buildings and courtyards, while the pavements are wide, often sheltered, and free of litter.

From BBC

The shock waves have been felt from the Middle East, where big producers like Kuwait are shutting down, to American highways, where drivers are facing higher prices at the pump.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• freeway
• interstate
• parking lot
• path
• roadway
• street
• superhighway
• thoroughfare
• track
• turnpike